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CHURCH HISTORY LITERACY Lesson 28 St. Jerome

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CHURCH HISTORY LITERACY Lesson 28 St. Jerome CHURCH HISTORY LITERACY Lesson 28 St. Jerome There is a famous story about St. Jerome that mimics an ancient Greek fiction. The story centers on a lion with a thorn in its paw. Jerome supposedly pulls the thorn out of the paw, earning the dedication of the lion. The fiction about Jerome was present in the late middle ages. How it became affixed to Jerome, we do not know. That the story became affixed, we certainly understand. Jerome was a giant in the early church. The Catholic church recognizes Jerome as one of the four great “Doctors” of the church. Protestants scholars likewise see Jerome as a principle in the growth and development of the church. Why? That will be the thrust of our lesson! We will look at Jerome from a biographical perspective and then consider the work of his life and its impact on the church both in his day and historically. While many have written about Jerome, we get our direct knowledge from his own letters. Jerome was a prolific letter writer, and we have 1211 of his letters still today. These letters give us great insight not only into Jerome, but also into the church and society in his day. BIOGRAPHY Jerome was born somewhere around 345 to 347 in “Strido, which is on the border of Dalmatia and Pannonia,”2 a town most likely modern Grahovopolje in what is now Bosnia and Herzegovina, formerly Yugoslavia. At the time of his birth, Strido was a Roman town near the border of what we would consider Northeast Italy and the Roman province of Dalmatia.3 Jerome’s parents were quite well to 1 In most editions, we have 154 letters, but letter 18 most scholars reckon to be two combined letters, making a total of 155 letters embodied in a collection of Jerome’s correspondence. Of these 155, 32 are written to Jerome instead of from him, leaving 123 letters. Two of these letters (numbers 148 and 149), most scholars consider falsely attributed to Jerome leaving us with 121 (or 120 if one doesn’t count letter 18 as two!) letters. 2 Jerome, Lives of Illustrious Men, 135. Translation by W. H. Fremantle, published by Eerdmans in its series Nicene & Post-Nicene Fathers. In this work, Jerome included 135 men of the church who had written “memorable writings.” The last of the 135 men Jerome chose to include and write on was Jerome himself! Quite a bold and confident fellow! 3 Strido was a major Roman city and an early Christian city. Saint Mark was considered the founder of the church in that area. De Hamel, The Book. A History of the Bible, (Phaidon 2001 at 14). Biblical-literacy.com © Copyright 2006 by W. Mark Lanier. Permission hereby granted to reprint this document in its entirety without change, with reference given, and not for financial profit. do and ensured him a top-flight education. He started school in his town, but he and his best friend were sent to Rome at the age of 12 to continue school. In Rome, Jerome spent much of his teenage years studying under one of the best Latin scholars/teachers, Aelius Donatus. Donatus wrote the basic Latin textbook used for the next 1,000 years (throughout the Middle Ages).4 In addition to gaining great proficiency in Latin grammar, Jerome also used this time to study Koine (Biblical) Greek. Jerome was baptized at age 19 while in Rome. Shortly thereafter, somewhere around the age of 20, Jerome left Rome (again traveling with his boyhood friend Bonosus) and went to Treves (modern Trier Germany) on the “semibarbarous banks of the Rhine.”5 While at Treves, Jerome put his language skills to work making copies of certain commentaries (remember, no copy machines!).6 Jerome had experiences there with monasticism and learned a bit about the hermits of Egypt. The impressions left on Jerome brought about his joining a movement of ascetics living with strict regimens that carefully monitored any indulgences of the body! There was one indulgence, however, that Jerome had trouble giving up! It was his love for pagan literature. Cicero’s writings seemed to have especially appealed to Jerome. Around 372 (age 27ish), Jerome left for parts of what are now Turkey, visiting the areas Peter wrote to in his epistles and Paul in Galatians. Jerome settled in Antioch, where the first major church outside Jerusalem was established. While at Antioch, a life changing experience occurred to Jerome. Jerome related the events later in a letter, writing: While the old serpent [Satan] was thus having sport with me, in about Mid-Lent, a fever attacked my enfeebled body and spread to my very vitals, what I say is almost beyond belief…. Preparations for my funeral were being made… Suddenly I was caught up in the spirit and dragged before the tribunal of the Judge…I cast my self on the ground and dared not look up. Upon being asked my status, I replied that I was a Christian. And he who sat upon the judgment seat said: “Thou liest. 4 Rather interesting that the writer of the major book to teach Latin for the next 1,000 years was the Latin teacher of the man who translated the Bible into the Latin version that was used by the church for the same 1,000 years! 5 Letter 3.5.2. The translations of the letters used in this paper are those of Charles Mierow, The Letters of St. Jerome (Newman Press 1963) for the first 22 letters. 6 Jerome copied commentaries of Hilary, bishop of Poitiers, who had likely just died (Hilary probably died 367-368). 2 Thou art a Ciceronian [devotee of Cicero], not a Christian. Where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also.’ I was struck dumb on the spot.”7 From that time on, Jerome spent his time and energy reading and working on his faith rather than indulging in pagan literature! In fact, while at Antioch and in the neighboring desert, Jerome worked not only on his Greek skills, but he also studied Hebrew from a Jewish rabbi turned Christian. Jerome was in this part of the world during the significant years when the Trinity issues met final resolution at the Council of Constantinople in 381 (see the earlier lesson on the Trinity). In fact, Jerome went to Constantinople around 379 for his ordination as priest, returning for the Council in 381. Following the council, Jerome returned to Rome around 382. For several years, he served as the secretary to the Bishop of Rome/Pope Damasus. In addition to his duties as secretary, Jerome spent this time continuing his ascetic lifestyle and concentrating on scholarly work on scripture. In December 384, Damasus died and Jerome left Rome for good.8 Jerome went back East, including a visit to Egypt, and finally settled in Palestine (around 386 at age 41 or so). Jerome found his role as supervisor of a religious community in Bethlehem and a writer/Bible translator. Jerome continued to live in Bethlehem until his death, which is thought to be around 419–420 around the age of 75. Church leaders have called Jerome a “Father” of the church since the 700’s. Councils and Popes have recognized Jerome as a Doctor in Sacred Scriptures, a saint, and an “indispensable witness to the mind of the Church in dealing with the Word of God.”9 Yet, one cannot read Jerome’s writings without being struck by certain passages that seem to reek with almost arrogant self-confidence and self- 7 Letter 22 at 30. 8 The Catholic Encyclopedia asserts that Jerome left because his “hopes” of becoming the successor pope to Damasus were destroyed by his harshness in writing about the laxity of the Romans clergy as well as his teaching about rigid asceticism. Jerome, never one to leave alone his own considerations of his personal merit or lack thereof, does note while writing from a ship the next year (385), “all Rome resounded with my praises. Almost everyone concurred in judging me worthy of the episcopate (bishop/pope). Damasus, of blessed memory, [the recently dead bishop/pope to whom Jerome served as secretary] spoke no words but mine. Men called me holy, humble, eloquent.” Letter 45.3, translated by Fremantle in the Eerdman’s series. We would do well to remember that when we work in positions of power and influence, the praises of men are not always as genuine or long lasting as they might seem! Likewise, a little extra humility never hurt anyone! 9 The Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 7, p. 759. 3 righteousness, while other passages effuse humility. It is clear from some passages that Jerome could fly off the handle and answer matters with more than a little anger. Other times, his love and patience are equally evident and compelling. Some passages evoke the picture of a man biting and sarcastic, while others show one who is both understanding and compassionate. Yet in all his writings, there is never any doubt about his scholasticism and intellect, nor is there ever a hint of anything less than full devotion to God as Jerome understood him. WRITINGS Rather than approach Jerome’s writings chronologically, we are going to consider his major work first, and then his other writings. Jerome is responsible for the Latin version of the Bible that the church used from his day and for the next 1,000 years. As a first-rate Latin scholar, a very good Greek scholar, and later in life, a solid Hebrew scholar, Jerome was uniquely gifted for translating the scriptures.
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